Thankful to be Alive!

In Ephesians 2:4-5, the Apostle Paul gives the big "before" and "now" of the Christian life.

Before (vv1-3) we were:

• DEAD in our trespasses and sins
• WALKING (dead) according to the course of this world
• FOLLOWING (death) the prince of the power of the air (Satan)
• LIVING (dead) in the passions of our flesh, and
• CHARACTERIZED as children of wrath (under the eternal death sentence of Almighty God)

BUT NOW, we are

• MADE ALIVE together with Christ.

HOW did this happen?

• Because God is RICH IN MERCY, v.4. JUSTICE is getting what I deserve. MERCY is not getting what I do deserve. GRACE is getting the opposite of what I deserve. God is RICH in mercy. Rich means abundant. God is a God of abundant, more than enough, overflowing mercy. His very nature pours over the edges with the mercy that does not give us the justice we deserve by instead brought down justice on Jesus' head!
• Because God has a GREAT LOVE, v.4. Great means multitudinous, of a great number. LOVE is agape, the self-sacrificing giving for the good of another despite their underservedness kind of love. God is not only love by infinite, eternal nature (1John 4:8), but the capacity of this love is GREAT, incalculable, immeasurable.
• Because of God's GRACE, v.5. We have been given, not just what we DON'T deserve, but the OPPOSITE of what we deserve. To not condemn us and destroy us eternally is not giving us what we deserve. But to go on and give us LIFE!!!! in Christ is the opposite of what we deserve.

WHEN did this happen?

• EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN OUR TRESPASSES, v.5. There was no remaining flicker of life in us that responded to God's overtures. WE WERE DEAD. There was no spiritual life in us. There was no possible initiation from us toward God. It was ALL God's doing. He was the initiator! Not only was there no flicker of life or desire for God in us, we were HATERS of God, rebels, vile sinners, we were head over heels in love with the world and disciples of Satan (vv.1-3).

At THAT TIME God's nature, rich in mercy, love, and grace stepped in and rescued me from my nature, dead, sin-pursuing, Satan-led, to MAKE ME ALIVE in Christ.

I am thankful to be ALIVE! "Father, I marvel in your mercy, love, and grace. I marvel that when I was rushing headlong into your wrath I was swept up by your love and mercy and grace into LIFE, LIFE IN JESUS."